I did not rape her… We were fighting over food: ‘Killer’ stepfather tells police

The 27-years old Zimbabwe Republic Police officer who allegedly raped and gruesomely murdered his 19-years old stepdaughter last Friday stunned the court on Monday when his recorded statement says he did not rape or kill Olga Nyasha Unganai.

Constable Nigel Jalasi in a statement to the police said he and his stepdaughter were fighting over food in the kitchen, and the fight ended in the bedroom.

In his statement to the police, Jalasi said, “I did not rape her but we had an altercation in the kitchen over food and we tussled until we reached the main bedroom.

“When we fell down that is when I took a scissors and stabbed her.”

Jalasi is married to Olga’s mother, Inspector Regina Mhondiwa, 41, a senior officer at the Police Golf club.

Jalasi was finally apprehended in Mbare after he had fled from the crime scene following a tip-off.

However, Jalasi stunned the gallery when he claimed that he did not rape Olga at all but only stabbed her to death with a scissors 15 times after a fight over food degenerated into violence.

As for the police statement that he did not rape her or murder her, the court said that it will not use that statement in question during the trial because Jalasi had disowned it.

Jalasi was denied bail and advised to apply at the High Court instead.

He was remanded to the 27th of May after Public Prosecutor Sebastian Mutizirwa strongly opposed bail.

After his arrest, the police took Jalasi back to the Eastlea home where the funeral was being held so that he could give indications.

‘Giving indication’ s refers to the process in which a suspect walks the investigating officers through the crime scene indicating how and where he performed specific acts.

During the process, Olga’s mother Regina, aged 41, is reported to have shouted, “Wakaurayireiko mwana wangu? Nyasha aitura neunhu here nhaii? Wakauraueireiko mwana angu. (Why did you kill my daughter? She is a sweet soul who never had issues with anyone. Why did you kill my daughter?”

In happier times (from left): The late Olga, Jalasi (25), and his wife Inspector Regina Mhondiwa aged 41

During the indications, Jalasi told the investigating officers, that he had dragged Olga from the kitchen into the main bedroom where he had raped her once.

Unfortunately, the neighbours failed to rescue Olga even though she screamed and called for help.

In an effort to silence her, Jalasi stabbed her 15 times in the abdomen and in the neck.

Olga, the deceased

Jalasi then dropped the bloody scissors on a stool at the crime scene and fled after neighbours finally managed to force the door open.

Jalasi then fled to Mbare where he sought refuge at a shebeen.

Unfortunately for him, one of the drug dealers was so appalled by Jalasi’s crime that he tipped off the police as to his whereabouts.

Police on Sunday said: “Constable Jalasi was arrested by police in Matapi where he was hiding and he will appear in court soon after the completion of investigations being carried out.

“The suspect was facing a case of aggravated indecent assault when the heinous act happened and police will leave no stone un-turned in making sure justice prevails.”